By Nkechi Eze
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of Superintendent Orvenonne Ikwen as the new National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), the Nigeria Police Force’s flagship non-kinetic initiative for tackling cultism and a wide range of social vices through preventive and community-driven strategies.
Announcing the appointment in an official statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the decision reflects the IGP’s commitment to an intelligence-led, technology-driven, people-centred policing model that prioritises early intervention, community trust and proactive engagement in mitigating crime across the country.
SP Ikwen, a seasoned law enforcement officer and security development practitioner, assumes the role with extensive academic and professional credentials. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science with specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from the University of Calabar and has earned recognition for her contributions to technology-driven policing, strategic communication and behavioural change programmes.
She is also a member of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria and the Institute of Conflict Management & Negotiation Analyst, and has participated in key police transformation initiatives, research collaborations and inter-agency projects.
As the new National Coordinator, Ikwen is expected to broaden POCACOV’s reach across schools, tertiary institutions, communities and youth-focused platforms. Her mandate includes strengthening preventive measures against cultism, drug abuse, cyber vulnerabilities, gender-based violence, misinformation and related social problems through participatory and community-centred approaches.
The IGP urged her to deepen partnerships with stakeholders, community leaders, organisations, educational institutions and youth groups that have supported the campaign over the years, and to explore innovative strategies that will elevate the impact of POCACOV nationwide.
The appointment, according to the statement, marks another step in the police leadership’s push toward modern policing reforms anchored on professionalism, collaboration and trust-building between the police and the public.
